I spent today at KR Training, taking the course to become an NRA Instructor certified to teach their Personal Protection in the Home course. From the NRA Blog:

Americans own firearms for a variety of reasons, but home defense is among the most common reasons for owning a handgun. To help handgun owners learn more about firearms and home defense, the NRA developed the Basics of Personal Protection In The Home Course. This course focuses on the safe and efficient use of a handgun for protection of self and family. Students can also learn about their right to self-defense as a law-abiding citizen.

[…]

During the eight-hour course, an NRA Certified Instructor will teach students basic defensive shooting skills, how to respond to a violent confrontation, and strategies for home safety. Specific state firearms and home defense laws are taught by an individual certified in the state that the course is taught (such as an attorney or police officer). Not sure which gun is right for you and your home? You can learn how to choose a handgun for self-defense, along with continued opportunities to expand your skills.

Although Personal Protection In the Home is considered an NRA Basic course, it’s not for beginners. In order to take this course, students must be law-abiding adults (at least 21 years) and have experience with a firearm. To learn more about the course requirements or to find an NRA Basic Personal Protection In The Home Course near you, visit NRA Education & Training or call 703-267-1481 for more information.

It’s a pretty cool course. I think there’s a lot of good material in here that goes beyond your basic “how to shoot a firearm”, which NRA First Steps and Basic courses are about. My understanding is this course was developed to help with concealed handgun license requirements in some states. What’s good about the class isn’t just that it teaches how to shoot, but it works to address realities about self-defense shooting such as the legal matters and what your personal response may be (e.g. emotional and psychological impacts). A combination of Jeff Cooper and Massad Ayoob.

Much of this material I already know from taking other training courses. But to obtain the certification is certainly a good thing.

We also had a little extra fun in the class. One of the parts of the course is educating students about shooting opportunities, such as IPSC and IDPA action pistol shooting. So to expose folks to that, one IDPA course and one IPSC course were set up. Much fun to shoot that.

A good day, especially since much of it was spent on the range. Weather was perfect. Life is good. I just need to complete the exam and submit the paperwork to make my certification final.